Nozzle adapter for volumetric test and measurement apparatus

ABSTRACT

A nozzle adapter assembly is provided for adapting use of nozzles on liquid dispensing pumps with test and measurement equipment such as liquid provers, test measures and liquid proving systems. The adapter can be used with automatic shut-off nozzles through which the liquid may normally be dispensed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/729,397, filed Nov. 22, 2012, hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to bottom drain liquid proving systems,including provers used to calibrate volume meters on gasoline and dieselpumps at filling stations, and nozzle adapter assemblies for gasolineand diesel nozzles used with liquid dispensing pumps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Liquid proving systems utilizing a bottom drain liquid prover thatdrains into a liquid holding tank can be used to prove the accuracy ofthe reading displayed on a liquid dispensing pump. U.S. Pat. No.7,874,195 (to Murnane, Jr.; also Canadian Patent No. 2,626,280) and U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0137750 (to Murnane, Jr. et al.;also Canadian Patent No. 2,727,049) describe the art of proving systemsthat can be used, in particular, to prove gasoline and diesel pumps atfilling (gas) stations (or gas bars) where top-fill and bottom-drainprovers are used. Top-fill and bottom-drain provers (test measures) areconveniently used in these small volume applications (typically fivegallons (20 liters) or less) since existing standards and conventiondictate use of such provers. Combined top-fill or bottom-fill and bottomdrain provers are limited in use in known proving systems to largevolume meter applications, such as metered filling of gasoline tankertrucks, where a single proving measurement is performed, after which thelarge volume combined top-fill or bottom-fill and bottom-drain prover isemptied back into the tank from which the liquid was drawn. Thesecombined top-fill or bottom-fill provers typically range in capacityfrom 500 gallons (1,500 liters) to 1,500 gallons (5,000 liters). Suchlarge volume single proving measurement applications are contrasted withexisting small volume top-fill and bottom-drain applications that drainto a directly connected liquid holding tank so that multiple provingmeasurements can be performed before the liquid holding tank must beemptied back into the tank from which the liquid was drawn.

Illustrated in FIG. 1(a) is known liquid prover system 101. Bottom drainprover 100 is installed near a front end of liquid holding tank 200 withthe interior of the prover's drain section 100 c connected to theinterior of liquid holding tank 200 via drain valve 100 d. Bottom drainprover 100 typically has a narrow upper neck 100 a with fill opening 100a′ for filling the prover with liquid from the liquid dispensing pump, awider diameter body section 100 b for accumulating and holding the bulkof the liquid pumped into the prover, and a narrow drain section 100 cwith a drain opening. Drain valve 100 d is provided for controllingrelease of the accumulated liquid from the prover via drain valve levermechanism 100 d′ (shown in FIG. 1(b)). The prover's volume gauge orindicator can be a gauge glass tube 100 e that has its interior volumeconnected to the interior volume of neck 100 a. The gauge glass ismarked along its height with a neck scale that reflects the capacity ofliquid in the above prover when drain valve 100 d is closed and theprover is filled with liquid up to the neck region of the prover. Thenominal capacity of the prover, and deviations therefrom, are marked onthe scale using standards that are established by the applicablestandards organizations. Use of the prover is as disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 7,874,195. Vapor conduit 400 connects the interior volumes of neck100 a and tank 200 so as to form a closed path for vapors in prover 100and tank 200. The combination of nozzle sealing gasket 900 and nozzleremoved self seal assembly 320 minimizes the release of vapors fromtop-fill opening 100 a′ regardless of whether or not the dispensingpump's nozzle is inserted into the fill opening. Ambient air vent 420allows ambient (atmospheric) pressure equalization in the liquid holdingtank as the tank is filled with liquid drained from the prover, andemptied via the tank's discharge line 200 a and discharge control valve200 b.

FIG. 1(b) illustrates three of the liquid prover systems shown in FIG.1(a) connected to common support structure 920.

FIG. 3(a) illustrates nozzle removed self seal assembly 320 used withthe prover system shown in FIG. 1(a). The nozzle removed self sealassembly comprises sealing plate 340 (FIG. 4), which is in the shape ofan annular disk with an annulus or through opening 340 a, and throughopening self sealing assembly 360 (FIG. 5 with sealing plate 340 shownin dashed lines), which opens when a dispensing pump's nozzle isinserted in the through opening and closes when the nozzle is withdrawnfrom the through opening. The diameter of the through opening isidentified as “d” in FIG. 3(a). Generally through opening 340 a islimited in size to the outer dimension of the nozzle to be inserted intothe through opening with additional clearance as required for nozzleinsertion into the through opening.

In FIG. 3(a), nozzle sealing gasket 900 is seated adjacently abovenozzle removed self seal assembly 320 to form a combination prover fillopening self sealing assembly wherein the nozzle sealing gasket 900primarily prevents release of vapors through the fill opening when anozzle is inserted in opening 900 a in gasket 900, and closed flapperdoor 360 a in the nozzle removed self seal assembly 320 prevents releaseof vapors through the fill opening when a nozzle is not inserted throughopening 340 a in sealing plate 340. Nozzle sealing gasket 900 hasopening 900 a, which is sufficiently large in cross section (shown asdiameter “d₁” in FIG. 3(a)) to push a nozzle through while substantiallymaintaining a vapor seal between the perimeter of opening 900 a and theexterior section of the nozzle pushed through opening 900 a. As shown inFIG. 3(b), alternative nozzle sealing gasket 900′ may be of an annularring shape and positioned within through opening 340 a as shown in FIG.3(a).

FIG. 5 illustrates through opening self sealing assembly 360 that can beused with the prover system shown in FIG. 1(a). The through opening selfassembly comprises flapper door 360 a, self-closing spring loaded hinge360 b, and shim 360 c as shown in FIG. 6(a), FIG. 6(b) and FIG. 6(c),respectively. Flapper door 360 a is located on the side of sealing plate340 that faces the interior of the prover's neck volume, and positionedso that the flapper door is seated over the entire through opening 340 awhen a nozzle is not positioned in the through opening, thus providing aseal to prevent release of vapors through the fill opening toatmosphere. Flapper door 360 a is attached to first wing 360 b′ ofself-closing spring loaded hinge 360 b while the second wing 360 b″ issuitably attached to shim 360 c, which, in turn, is suitably attached tosealing plate 340 as seen in FIG. 3(a). The first and second wings aresuitably connected to spring 370 of the self-closing spring loadedhinge. Therefore the flapper door ensures that vapors are not releasedfrom the neck of prover 100 to atmosphere unless a dispensing pump'snozzle is inserted into the sealing plate's through opening 340 a.Inserting the nozzle into the through opening will force the springloaded flapper door to open against the inserted nozzle. Preferably thediameter of through opening 340 a is sufficiently large enough to alloweasy passage of the nozzle, or a range of nozzles, intended to be usedwith the prover, without excess release of vapors though any clearancespace between the through opening and the outer diameter of the nozzle.

The combination of nozzle sealing gasket 900 and nozzle removed selfseal assembly 320 minimizes the release of vapors from fill opening 100a′ regardless of whether the dispensing pump's nozzle is inserted intothe fill opening.

Ambient air vent 420 (FIG. 1(a) and FIG. 1(b)) is generally located nearthe (rear) end of liquid holding tank 200 that is opposite the (front)end near where prover 100 is located.

As illustrated in FIG. 1(a), FIG. 2(a) and FIG. 2(b) breather capassembly 300 can be disposed over nozzle sealing gasket 900 and nozzleremoved self seal assembly 320 when prover 100 is not being used forextended periods, for example, when the prover is being transportedbetween gas stations. As seen in FIG. 2(c) through 2(e), through opening900 a in nozzle sealing gasket 900 is smaller than the through openings300 a′ and 100 f in bayonet flange 300 a and prover's neck flange 100 f.Further opening 900 a is sized to form a tight fit around the exteriorof a pump's nozzle that is inserted through the opening. Typical nozzlesealing gasket 900 comprises a flexible material, such as a rubbercomposition, at least around through opening 900 a so that the gasketseals around the nozzle inserted through opening 900 a.

Liquid prover system 101 as described above and in U.S. Pat. No.7,874,195 results in an improved accuracy particularly when the liquidis highly volatile. It is an object of the present invention to providea liquid prover with an improved vapor elimination system that resultsin greater accuracy than that of the liquid proving system describedabove when the bottom-drain prover is connected to a liquid holdingtank.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a liquidproving system with a selectable top-fill or bottom-fill andbottom-drain prover that can be used in small volume provingapplications.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a liquidproving system with a bottom-fill and bottom-drain prover that can beused in small volume proving applications.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a nozzleadapter assembly that can be used with nozzles, including automaticshut-off nozzles, that are used with liquid dispensing pumps.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention is apparatus for, and process of,measuring a volume of liquid with a small volume bottom drain liquidproving system. The small volume bottom drain prover is a combinedtop-fill and bottom-fill prover, or a bottom-fill prover withouttop-fill. The small volume bottom drain prover has an upper section forreceiving the liquid when the top-fill option is used, an intermediatesection for accumulating liquid pumped into the prover, and a smallvolume bottom drain section for draining accumulated liquid from theprover into a liquid holding tank and receiving the liquid when thebottom-fill is used. A prover gauge or indicator is in communicationwith the interior volume of the prover to measure a volume of liquidpumped into the prover. A vapor conduit is provided between the uppersection of the prover and the interior volume of the liquid holding tankto establish a saturated vapor environment in the interior volume of theprover with a vapor tank baffle assembly.

If the optional top-fill is provided, a prover fill opening self sealingassembly is disposed over the top opening in the upper section of theprover through which liquid is pumped into the prover. The prover fillopening self sealing assembly has a self sealing opening that opens whena liquid dispensing nozzle is pushed against the self sealing openingand forms a substantially vapor tight seal around the nozzle.

A vent connects the interior volume of the liquid holding tank toatmosphere and a liquid holding tank controlled fill volume is providedin the liquid holding tank to ensure saturated vapor remains in thefluid loop defined by the liquid holding tank controlled fill volume,the vapor conduit and the bottom-drain prover.

A nozzle adapter assembly can be provided so that a nozzle, including anautomatic shut-off nozzle, used with the liquid dispensing pump can beused directly with a bottom-fill prover of the present invention orother test and measurement equipment.

The above and other aspects of the invention are set forth in thisspecification and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing brief summary, as well as the following detaileddescription of the invention, is better understood when read inconjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustratingthe invention, there is shown in the drawings exemplary forms of theinvention that are presently preferred; however, the invention is notlimited to the specific arrangements and instrumentalities disclosed inthe following appended drawings.

FIG. 1(a) is a simplified cross sectional elevation view of an existingtop-fill and bottom-drain liquid prover with the prover's drainconnected to a liquid holding tank.

FIG. 1(b) is an isometric view of three bottom-drain liquid proversshown in FIG. 1(a), with their dedicated separate liquid holding tanksconnected to a common support structure.

FIG. 2(a) is a side elevation view of a breather cap assembly used withthe prover system shown in FIG. 1(a).

FIG. 2(b) is a side elevation exploded view of the prover fill openingself sealing assembly and breather cap assembly used with the proversystem shown in FIG. 1(a).

FIG. 2(c), FIG. 2(d) and FIG. 2(e) are top views of a bayonet flangeused with the breather cap assembly; nozzle sealing gasket; and prover'sneck flange, respectively.

FIG. 3(a) is a prover top-fill opening self sealing assembly used withthe prover system shown in FIG. 1(a).

FIG. 3(b) is one alternative prover top-fill opening self sealingassembly that can be used with the prover system shown in FIG. 1(a).

FIG. 4 is one example of a sealing plate used in a nozzle removed selfseal assembly that forms a part of the prover top-fill opening selfsealing assembly shown in FIG. 3(a).

FIG. 5 is one example of a through opening self sealing assembly thatforms a part of the nozzle removed self seal assembly shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6(a), FIG. 6(b) and FIG. 6(c) illustrate components of the throughopening self sealing assembly shown in FIG. 5

FIG. 7(a) is an isometric view of one example of a combined top-fill orbottom-fill and small volume bottom drain liquid prover of the presentinvention used in one example of a proving system of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7(b) is a simplified cross sectional elevation view of one exampleof the small volume bottom drain liquid proving system shown in FIG.7(a).

FIG. 8(a) is a detail isometric view of one example of a bottom-fillassembly used with the liquid proving system shown in FIG. 7(a) and FIG.7(b).

FIG. 8(b) is an exploded view of the bottom-fill assembly shown in FIG.8(a).

FIG. 8(c) is a detail isometric view of another example of a bottom-fillassembly used with the liquid proving system shown in FIG. 7(a) and FIG.7(b).

FIG. 9(a) is an isometric view of one example of an automatic shut-offnozzle adapter assembly used in the present invention.

FIG. 9(b) is an isometric exploded view of the automatic shut-off nozzleadapter assembly shown in FIG. 9(a).

FIG. 9(c) is a cross section elevation view of the automatic shut-offnozzle vacuum tube sensing port interface component used in theautomatic shut-off nozzle adapter assembly shown in FIG. 9(a) and FIG.9(b).

FIG. 9(d) is a cross sectional elevation view of the automatic shut-offnozzle adapter assembly shown in FIG. 9(a) and FIG. 9(b) with a nozzle'sspout inserted therein.

FIG. 9(e) is a cross sectional view of a cam lock fluid fitting.

FIG. 10(a) and FIG. 10(b) are isometric views of an automatic shut-offnozzle shown relative to an exploded view and assembled view,respectively, of the automatic shut-off nozzle adapter shown in FIG.9(a) and FIG. 9(b).

FIG. 11(a) is the detail isometric view of the bottom-fill assemblyshown in FIG. 8(a) when used with a liquid dispensing pump's hose.

FIG. 11(b) is the detail isometric view of the bottom-fill assemblyshown in FIG. 8(a) when used with an automatic shut-off nozzle andnozzle adapter assembly shown in FIG. 9(a).

FIG. 11(c) is a detail isometric view of another example of abottom-fill assembly when used with the automatic shut-off nozzle andnozzle adapter assembly shown in FIG. 9(a).

FIG. 12(a) is a partial isometric view of a liquid proving system of thepresent invention illustrating one example of a liquid holding tankbaffle assembly shown in a tank cut-out view as used in a liquid provingsystem of the present invention.

FIG. 12(b) is the liquid holding tank baffle assembly shown in FIG.12(a) when it is removed from the liquid holding tank.

FIG. 12(c) is a top view of the liquid holding tank baffle assemblyshown in 12(b).

FIG. 13(a) through FIG. 13(d) illustrate fluid and vapor flow within andaround the liquid holding tank baffle assembly as the liquid holdingtank fills.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of another example of the small volumebottom drain liquid proving system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate likeelements there is shown in FIG. 7(a) and FIG. 7(b) one example of liquidprover system 10 of the present invention. The liquid prover system inthis example comprises (test measure) prover 12 and liquid holding tank14.

In some examples of the present invention prover 12 is similar to prover100 described above with the addition of bottom-fill assembly 20 inmodified drain section 100 c′. Bottom-fill assembly 20 used in thisexample is best seen in FIG. 8(a) and FIG. 8(b). In general bottom-fillassembly 20 is a tubular assembly with its interior opening (throughpassage) having a first (prover) end into drain section 100 c′ of prover12, which is located above drain valve 100 d. The interior of the second(supply) end of the bottom-fill assembly that opposes the first end isconnected to a supply of liquid (such as gasoline) that is beingvolumetrically measured by the prover system as further described below.In this example of the invention, the first end of the bottom-fillassembly is at a horizontal height H₁ that is higher than the horizontalheight H₂ of the second end of the bottom-fill assembly. In otherexamples of the invention, the horizontal height H₁ may be lower thanthe horizontal height H₂ of the second end of the bottom-fill assemblyas illustrated in FIG. 8(c) with elbow fitting 22 d, for example, whenthe nozzle adapter assembly 70, as further described below andillustrated in FIG. 11(c) with elbow fitting 22 d, is used. In allexamples of the invention, it is preferable that at least the checkvalve 24 is disposed at a lower height than the first (prover) end ofthe bottom-fill assembly to prevent the trapping of air in thebottom-fill assembly (between the first (prover end) and the checkvalve) when an optional top-fill is utilized.

In this particular example in FIG. 8(a) and FIG. 8(b) elbow assembly 22comprises fittings 22 a, 22 b and 22 c and is provided as a matter ofconvenience to provide a satisfactory position of the bottom-fillassembly relative to other components of the prover system. In thisexample of the invention, fittings 22 a and 22 c are pipe sectionssuitably connected to elbow fitting 22 b. Fitting 22 c is connected tothe outlet of check valve 24 that prevents back flow of the liquid inthe prover that was supplied from the second (supply) end (H₂) ofassembly 20 to the first end (H₁) of the assembly when a bottom-fillprover measurement is performed. Interconnect fitting 26 is connected ata first end to the inlet of check valve 24 and at a second opposing endto the first end of liquid flow control device 28. The second end ofliquid flow control device 28 is connected to liquid supply lockingdevice 90 at the second (supply) end of the bottom-fill assembly. Duringbottom-fill proving measurements, the second (prover) end of liquidsupply adapter 91 (as shown in FIG. 11(a)) or nozzle adapter assembly 70(as shown in FIG. 11(b) or FIG. 11(c)) is locked into liquid supplylocking device 90. Normally the end fitting of the gas pump's hose 92would interface with a nozzle when the gas pump is used to supplygasoline to the filler neck of an automobile's fuel tank. In use withthe bottom-fill assembly, the nozzle is removed from the end fitting ofthe gas pump's hose (typically a male/female screw thread interface) andthe first end of the liquid supply adapter 91 is connected to the endfitting of the gas pump's hose 92. Flow control device 28 can be anydevice that suitably controls flow of the liquid through the bottom-fillassembly, for example, a ball valve. In this example, flow controldevice 28 has a flow control lever mechanism 28 a for opening or closingthe valve. Fittings 22 a, 22 b and 22 c are not necessarily used inother examples of the invention, and the check valve and flow controldevice (if used) may be directly or otherwise connected to each other. Adevice for preventing back flow, such as check valve 24 is the requiredcomponent in the bottom-fill assembly. Liquid supply locking device 90at the second end of the assembly, can be any type of locking device,for example, an external clamping lock that clamps either to a liquidsupply adapter 91, as further described below or a nozzle adapterassembly 70, as further described below. As mentioned above in someexamples of the invention, at least the liquid supply locking device 90(and optional flow control device 28) can be oriented at an angle abovehorizontal so that the liquid supply can enter the liquid supply lockingdevice 90 in a downwards direction, for example, when a pump's nozzle isused and it is desired to point the spout of the nozzle in a downwarddirection before dispensing liquid from the liquid dispensing pump. Asmentioned above it is always preferable that the check valve is disposedat angle below horizontal to avoid trapping air in the bottom-fillassembly between the check valve and its first (prover) end.

Use of liquid supply adapter 91 requires removal of the nozzle that isused with the liquid dispensing pump being proved with the prover systemof the present invention. If the nozzle is, for example, an automaticshut-off nozzle (with or without stage II vapor recovery), the nozzlemay not interface directly with bottom fill assembly 20. An automaticshut-off nozzle utilizes a vacuum tube sensing port near the tip of thedispensing end of the nozzle's spout. For a stage II vapor recoverynozzle, vapor recovery holes will also be present on the spout. Thevacuum tube sensing port comprises one or more openings 82 in the outerperimeter of spout 84 of the automatic shut-off nozzle 80 as shown inFIG. 10(a). In order to dispense a liquid (such as gasoline) from thenozzle, the opening(s) of the sensing port (and, if used, the stage IIvapor recovery holes) need to be in communication with a supply of air(ambient) since the automatic shut-off components inside the nozzledepend upon vacuum suction intake of air to enable normal gasolinedispensing. In normal operation, for example, when the spout is insertedinto the filler neck of an automobile's fuel tank the automatic shut-offactivates when gasoline supplied from the spout begins to rise in thefiller neck to block air to the sensing port and enables the automaticshut-off of gasoline from the spout. If, for example, the spout of anautomatic shut-off nozzle is inserted directly into the first (supply)end of the liquid supply locking device 90 in the above example of theinvention, supply air would be blocked from the sensing port on thespout of the nozzle and it would not be possible to disable theautomatic shut-off of the nozzle so that gasoline could be supplied toprover 12.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus andmethod for defeating the automatic shut-off of a nozzle when the nozzleis being used with a test or measurement apparatus, such as a liquidprover of the present invention. FIG. 9(a) illustrates one example of anozzle adapter assembly 70 of the present invention. As furtherillustrated in FIG. 9(b) assembly 70 in this example comprises: a spoutlock fitting 70 a; a spout sensing port interface fitting 70 b; and aprover (or other test or measurement) dock fitting 70 c. Supplementalsealing elements between these fittings, such as O-rings 76′ and 76″ canbe provided as required. Optional spout lock fitting 70 a provides ameans for locking (sealing) spout 84 of a nozzle into the interiorthrough opening of assembly 70. Any suitable locking mechanism, such asa camlock fluid fitting 72 as illustrated in FIG. 9(e) can be used.Prover dock fitting 70 c is configured to lock (seal) in the second(supply) end of supply liquid locking device 90 in the bottom-fillassembly (or other test and measurement apparatus). Spout sensing portinterface fitting 70 b enables a supply of ambient air to the spoutsensing port (opening(s) 82) on the spout when an automatic shut-offnozzle is inserted into spout lock fitting 70 a (with or without stageII vapor recovery holes) in order to dispense a liquid from theautomatic shut-off nozzle as disclosed in the previous paragraph. Oneexample of spout sensing port interface fitting 70 b is illustrated incross section in FIG. 9(c) and FIG. 9(d). An annular air intake plenum70 d is provided in fitting 70 b. The annular ambient air intake plenumhas one or more air passages 70 e in communication with internal annularair plenum 70 f provided within axial distance d₉ of spout sensing portinterface fitting 70 b. As shown in FIG. 9(d) when spout 84 is properlyinserted into nozzle adapter assembly 70 the spout sensing port 82 is incommunication with internal annular air plenum 70 f so that a supply ofambient air is maintained to the spout sensing port and dispensing ofgasoline through the nozzle's spout is possible and enabled withoutenabling automatic shut-off of liquid flow through the nozzle. A spoutinsert stop ledge 70 c′ can be provided in prover dock fitting 70 c sothat the tip of an inserted spout butts up against ledge 70 c′ to ensurethat the spout sensing port 82 (and, if used, stage II vapor recoveryholes) is in communication with internal annular plenum 70 f. Thereforenozzle adapter assembly 70 allows proving the meter on the dispensingpump with the pump's nozzle installed as in normal operation with theliquid proving system of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 10(b)and 11(b). As mentioned above, when any nozzle is used, it may bepreferably to have the nozzle spout point downwards for entry into thenozzle adapter assembly as shown in FIG. 11(c). In these examples of theinvention the bottom-fill assembly can be arranged with at least theliquid supply locking device 90 disposed at an angle above horizontal.Alternatively nozzle adapter assembly 70 can incorporate an elbowsection that allows the spout entry to the nozzle adapter assembly bepositioned at an angle above horizontal as shown in FIG. 11(c) withelbow fitting 22 d.

Liquid holding tank 14 is similar to liquid holding tank 200 describedabove in that it contains an interior mid-tank vertically orientedanti-slosh baffle 210 and liquid level float switch 212. Anti-sloshbaffle 210, which is visible in the liquid holding tank cross section inFIG. 7(b) and the liquid holding tank cutout detail in FIG. 12(a), isnot related to proving measurements of the present invention; it isprovided to dampen lateral liquid sloshing oscillations when proversystem 10 is mounted on a movable structure, such as the bed of a pickuptruck. Liquid float switch 212 is visible in the liquid holding tankcross section in FIG. 7(b) and is shown in alternate tank empty (solidlines) and tank full (dashed lines) positions. The switch in the tank'sinterior gives an operator an indication of when the tank is full andrequires emptying via discharge line 200 a and discharge valve 200 b.

Unlike prior liquid holding tank 200, liquid holding tank 14 containstank baffle assembly 40, which is shown in FIG. 12(b) and installed inliquid holding tank 14 in FIG. 12(a). In this example of the invention,tank baffle assembly comprises forward plate 40 a, rear plate 40 b,interior lower plate 40 c and exterior lower plate 40 d. Side tabs 40a′, 40 b′ and 40 d′ provide one method of attaching the forward, rearand exterior lower plates to the interior sides of liquid holding tank14, and the rear plate's top to the interior top of the liquid holdingtank. In this example, when installed in tank 14, rear plate 40 b isoriented vertically in the tank and is positioned behind the end ofvapor conduit 400 opening 400 a into liquid holding tank 14. Interiorlower plate 40 c is in contact with the surface of the rear plate facingthe vapor conduit opening at interior lower plate end tabs 40 c′ at aninterior lower plate distance above the lower edge of the rear plate.The surface of the interior lower plate 40 c facing the vapor conduitopening forms an obtuse angle with the upper surface S, of rear plate 40b, and the open space between end tabs 40 c′ establishes liquid spillwayopening 42. The lower edge of interior lower plate 40 c is connected atan angle to the lower edge of forward plate 40 a, which may be, forexample, at a 90 degree angle, with the forward plate being oriented(tilted) off of vertical in a direction away from the vertical rearplate, and located under the interior opening of the prover's drainsection 100 c′ so that when liquid is in the prover and drain valve 100d is open, liquid from the prover splashes on to the angled surface, S″,of forward plate 40 a to cause a turbulent flow that disperses theliquid and enhance saturated vapor formation from the liquid in thebounding volume of the tank baffle assembly that can be referred to asthe baffle volume. The upper edge of exterior lower plate 40 d isconnected at an obtuse angle to the lower edge of rear plate 40 b, whichobtuse angle may be equal to the obtuse angle formed between theinterior lower plate and the rear plate as described above. One or moreopenings 44 in the connected edges of the forward and interior lowerplates allow a restrained low flow of liquid into the bottom of liquidholding tank 14. Optionally, as shown in FIG. 12(b) and FIG. 12(c)inward tapering of the lower side edges 40 c″ of the interior lowerplate 40 c and inward tapering of the lower edges 40 a″ of the forwardplate 40 a establish spillways that allow liquid to escape to the bottomof the tank in a restrained low flow in the space between the lower sideedges and the interior side walls of tank 14 as liquid is poured intothe tank controlled volume bounded by the surfaces, S′, S″ and S, of theforward, interior lower and rear plates, respectively, of tank baffleassembly 40. As the liquid further rises in this tank controlled volume,liquid spills out of the tank controlled volume through spillway opening42, which liquid splashes onto the upper surface of exterior lower plate40 d, which disperses and enhances the formation of vapor between theopposing surfaces of the lower interior and exterior surfaces andimpedes vapor dissipation into the liquid holding tank volume outside ofthe bounding volume of the tank baffle assembly. As shown in FIG. 12(a)the lower surface of the exterior lower plate is located above theinterior bottom of the liquid holding tank to allow a restrained flow ofthe liquid outside of the bounding volume of the tank baffle assemblyand into the remaining volume of the liquid holding tank. Most broadlythe tank baffle assembly 40 is arranged to reduce the liquid holdingtank volume in which vapor is dispersed particularly during earlyfilling of the tank from prover measurements. As disclosed above tankbaffle assembly 40 enhances vapor formation in the tank controlledvolume formed by the tank baffle assembly by creating splashing andturbulence within the tank controlled volume and directs the flow of theliquid and vapor from the tank controlled volume. In this example of theinvention the tank controlled volume is formed primarily from forwardplate 40 a, rear plate 40 b, interior lower plate 40 c, the opposinginterior side walls of the liquid holding tank and the top of the liquidholding tank between the rear plate and forward plate that encompassesthe vapor conduit opening 400 a into the liquid holding tank and theprover's drain section opening into the liquid holding tank. Variationsfrom the above tank baffle assembly that can accomplish these functionsand are within the capabilities of one skilled in the art arecontemplated as being within the scope of the invention.

One feature of the present invention is that the tank baffle assembly 40is formed to trap vapor within the tank controlled volume rather thanallowing the vapor to disperse freely within the total interior volumeof the liquid holding tank as the liquid holding tank fills frommultiple prover measurements. FIG. 13(a) through FIG. 13(d) illustratethis feature for the particular example tank baffle assembly 40described above. In FIG. 13(a) liquid state (designated by dottedregions and reference number 66) in prover 12 (which may be a 5 gallonprover) from a top or bottom fill prover measurement drains into theliquid holding tank controlled volume within tank baffle assembly 40(the baffle volume) when drain valve 100 d is opened. Liquid splashingon forward plate 40 a enhances formation of saturated vapor within thetank controlled volume and the saturated vapor (designated by densestippled regions and reference number 60) exits up into vapor conduit400 (indicated by upwards pointing arrow) in FIG. 13(a) as the liquid 66accumulating in the tank controlled volume slowly drains directly to thebottom of the tank at the restrained flow rate through openings 44 inthe connected edges of the forward and interior lower plates and in theregions formed between the side walls and optional lower inward taperededges (44 a″ and 44 c″) of the forward and interior lower plates (44 aand 44 c) if provided. The tank controlled volume is generally sized toallow unhampered gravity drain of a prover's volume of liquid. Generallythis means that the tank controlled volume is slightly larger than thevolume of the prover, that is, for example, from 1.0 to approximately1.2 times larger than the volume of the prover. For example a liquidprover system with a 5 gallon capacity prover with an 80 gallon totalcapacity liquid holding tank and a tank controlled volume of 6 gallons(approximately 1.2 times larger than 5 gallons) can be described as aliquid prover system with a 6 gallon primary liquid holding tank (thetank controlled volume) that drains into an 80 gallon secondary liquidholding tank (the total liquid holding tank volume). A smaller volumemay be acceptable since the liquid in the tank controlled volume iscontinuing to drain into the remaining liquid holding tank volume.Minimizing the controlled tank volume according to the aboverequirements decreases the time required to reach vapor saturation inthe substantially closed volume formed by the combination of the vaportank baffle assembly, the vapor conduit and the bottom drain prover, andresults in more accurate volumetric test results. As shown in FIG. 13(b)saturated vapor 60 is trapped within the tank controlled volume while alevel of non-saturated vapor in the remainder of the tank (designated byless dense stippled regions and reference number 62) is significantlylower than saturated. In FIG. 13(c) as liquid continues to rise in thetank controlled volume, it spills over through spillway opening 42between the interior lower plate and the rear plate, and over thesurface of the exterior lower plate to continue to trap saturated vapor60 from the liquid and direct the vapor up into vapor conduit 400 asindicated by the arrow in FIG. 13(c). Since the top-fill opening issealed during a top-fill or bottom-fill of prover 12 as described above,the saturated vapor is contained within the interior volume of theprover (as shown by the arrows) and repeated prover measurement accuracypreviously degraded by vapor dispersing throughout the entire interiorvolume of the liquid holding tank is improved. For a top-fill, thetop-fill opening is further sealed by placement of the nozzle in thetop-fill opening self sealing assembly, and for a bottom-fill thetop-fill opening is sealed by placement of the breather cap over the topopening as described above. In FIG. 13(d) the entire holding tank 14 andclosed prover environment is a combination of saturated vapor 60 andliquid 66 as the holding tank continues to fill from repeated provermeasurements.

FIG. 14 illustrates another example of the liquid prover system of thepresent wherein a plurality of liquid prover systems 10′, namely threein this example, as shown in FIG. 7(a) and FIG. 7(b) are connected tocommon support structure, which can be outfitted with wheels to form awheeled trailer that can be transported between sites for calibrationmeasurement of dispensing pumps' meters at each site. Alternatively theplurality of provers and structure support may be installed on avehicle, such as the flat bed of a pickup truck. Multiple prover systemsinstalled on a common vehicle are convenient, for example, for provingpumps dispensing multiple grades of gasoline. Meter calibration for eachgrade of gasoline can be accomplished in a separate prover and liquidholding tank installed on the common vehicle.

The above examples of the invention describe prover system 10, which hascombined top-fill and bottom-fill features. In other examples of theinvention, the top opening of prover 12 may be permanently sealed toform a bottom-fill only and bottom drain prover system with liquidholding tank 14.

When the combined top-fill feature is provided on prover 100, the methodof using the liquid proving system of the present invention can be thesame as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,874,195, which is incorporatedherein in its entirety, since the check valve in the bottom-fillassembly prevents flow of liquid out of the second end of the bottomfill assembly as described above.

In operation one example method of using the bottom-fill feature of theliquid proving system of the present invention is as follows. If theproving system also provides optional top fill operation, the breathercap assembly 300 remains installed on the prover through the bottom filloperation. Prover 12 is at least once initially filled with liquid froma metering device or pump, for example, by attaching liquid supplyadapter 91, as shown in FIG. 11(a), or nozzle adapter assembly 70, asshown in FIG. 11(b) or FIG. 11(c) to the liquid supply locking device 90at the second end of bottom-fill assembly 20 or 20′, and pumping liquidinto the prover either through the top or bottom fill assembly from aliquid dispensing nozzle or liquid dispensing device prior to performinga calibration fill. In the example shown in FIG. 11(a) liquid supplyadapter 91 is connected to a liquid supply hose 92; in other examples ofthe invention, liquid supply adapter 91 may be connected to piping orother liquid supply elements. In a calibration fill, a nominal volume(for example 5.0 gallons or 20.0 liters) of the liquid, as measured bythe meter reading on the metering device is pumped into the prover fromthe dispensing pump. The meter reading is compared with the volume ofliquid in the prover as measured by the volume gauge (neck scalereading) on the prover to determine the degree of error in the meterreading. If the error exceeds an allowable value, the meter can berecalibrated and another calibration fill of the prover can be made toconfirm that the recalibration brings the meter within an acceptabletolerance range.

As mentioned above another method for a calibration fill is to pumpliquid into the prover until the neck scale on the prover reads thenominal capacity, at which time, the meter on the pump can berecalibrated to the nominal capacity.

The pre-calibration filling of the prover is performed to wet down theinternal surfaces of the prover so that the quantity of fluid adheringto these internal surfaces is consistent during repetitive fillings ofthe prover. Since the calibration measurement fill is performed afterone or more pre-calibration fills, vapor saturation of the air in theprover, vapor conduit and liquid holding tank is assured, in particularby use of the tank baffle assembly as described above, particularly ifthe liquid (such as gasoline) has a strong tendency to evaporate.Maintaining a vapor saturated environment inside the prover effectivelyrestricts the vaporization of the volatile liquid. Minimizingevaporation from the volume of liquid pumped into the prover, andrelease of vapor from the prover, during a calibration fill is importantsince for a highly volatile liquid such as gasoline, the volume ofliquid lost in the release of vapor, for example, by allowing the vaporto dissipate into the entire holding tank volume without the tank baffleassembly of the present invention, can be significant. Consequentlywithout controlling vapor release as with the liquid prover system ofthe present invention, the prover's gauge reading may incorrectlyattribute a volumetric error to the calibration of the meter in theliquid dispensing device that actually results from vapor loss duringfilling of the prover.

After each filling of the prover with liquid, the liquid can be drainedfrom the prover by opening drain valve 100 d with the distribution ofliquid and saturated vapor in the prover system of the present inventionbeing as typically described above, and illustrated in FIG. 13(a)through FIG. 13(d) after the prover is drained. Since the interior ofthe prover, the vapor conduit and the vapor tank baffle assembly in theliquid holding tank are a substantially closed path system, vaporsaturated air is drawn (suctioned) into the interior prover volume viavapor conduit to replace the drained liquid from the prover. Bymaintaining the vapor saturated environment, evaporation is effectivelyrestricted.

The prover can be repeatedly used by draining each measured volume ofliquid from the prover into the liquid holding tank after being filleduntil a decision is made to empty the liquid holding tank before fullcapacity of the liquid holding tank is reached. At that time, liquidholding tank drain valve 200 b (FIG. 7(a) or FIG. 14) can be opened todrain the accumulated fluid from the liquid holding tank (with airflowing into the liquid holding tank via air vent 420 typically backinto a storage tank supplying liquid to the dispensing pump.

In some examples of the invention separate top-fill and bottom-fillvolume gauges or indicators may be provided on a prover used in a liquidprover system of the present invention.

While the above applications of the invention describe liquid dispensingpumps at gas stations and the like, the liquid proving system of thepresent invention is also of benefit in other applications, particularlywhere the liquid is highly volatile.

The nozzle adapter assembly disclosed herein may be utilized in othertest or measurement applications that required provisions for overridingan automatic shut-off nozzle.

The present invention has been described in terms of preferred examplesand embodiments. Equivalents, alternatives and modifications, aside fromthose expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of theinvention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A nozzle adapter assembly for supplying a liquid to a liquid test or measurement apparatus from an automatic shut-off nozzle having a nozzle dispensing spout, the nozzle dispensing spout having a spout air sensing port to enable a supply of the liquid from the nozzle dispensing spout when a source of ambient air is provided at the spout air sensing port and to automatically shut-off the supply of the liquid from the nozzle dispensing spout when the source of ambient air is not provided at the spout air sensing port to enable a bottom-fill of the liquid test or measurement apparatus with the nozzle dispensing spout without an automatic shut-off of the supply of liquid for a calibration fill, the nozzle adapter assembly comprising: a cam lock fluid fitting for sealably locking the nozzle dispensing spout into a cam lock fluid fitting interior passage; a spout sensing port interface fitting having a spout sensing port interface fitting interior passage, the spout sensing port interface fitting interior passage in communication with the cam lock fluid fitting interior passage, the spout sensing port interface fitting having a means for providing the source of ambient air at the spout air sensing port when the nozzle dispensing spout is locked into the cam lock fluid fitting interior passage; a first sealing element disposed between the cam lock fluid fitting and the spout sensing port interface fitting; a liquid test or measurement dock fitting having a dock fitting interior passage in communication with the spout sensing port interface fitting interior passage, the liquid test or measurement dock fitting having a means for sealably locking the nozzle adapter assembly into an interior volume of the liquid test or measurement apparatus and a spout insert stop ledge to ensure the spout air sensing port is in communication with the source of ambient air when the nozzle dispensing spout is locked into the cam lock fluid fitting interior passage; and a second sealing element disposed between the spout sensing port interface fitting and the liquid test or measurement dock fitting, the cam lock fluid fitting interior passage, the spout sensing port interface fitting interior passage, and the dock fitting interior passage forming an interior continuously sealed through opening in the nozzle adaptor assembly.
 2. The nozzle adapter assembly of claim 1 where the means for providing the source of ambient air at the spout air sensing port when the nozzle dispensing spout is locked into the cam lock fluid fitting interior passage comprises an annular air intake plenum in communication with the source of ambient air without a vacuum drawn in the annular air intake plenum.
 3. A nozzle adapter assembly for supplying a liquid to a small volume bottom-fill and bottom-drain prover for a calibration fill from an automatic shut-off nozzle having a nozzle dispensing spout, the nozzle dispensing spout having a spout air sensing port to enable a supply of the liquid from the nozzle dispensing spout when a source of ambient air is provided at the spout air sensing port and to automatically shut-off the supply of the liquid from the nozzle dispensing spout when the source of ambient air is not provided at the spout air sensing port, the nozzle adapter assembly comprising: a cam lock fluid fitting for sealably locking the nozzle dispensing spout into a spout lock fitting interior passage of the cam lock fluid fitting; a spout sensing port interface fitting having a spout sensing port interface fitting interior passage, the spout sensing port interface fitting interior passage in communication with the spout lock fitting interior passage, the spout sensing port interface fitting having a means for providing the source of ambient air at the spout air sensing port when the nozzle dispensing spout is locked into the spout lock fitting interior passage; a first sealing element disposed between the cam lock fluid fitting and the spout sensing port interface fitting; a prover dock fitting having a dock fitting interior passage in communication with the spout sensing port interface fitting interior passage, the prover dock fitting having a means for sealably locking the nozzle adapter assembly into an interior volume of the small volume bottom-fill and bottom-drain prover and a spout insert stop ledge to ensure the spout air sensing port is in communication with the source of ambient air when the nozzle dispensing spout is locked into the spout lock fitting interior passage; and a second sealing element disposed between the spout sensing port interface fitting and the prover dock fitting, the spout lock fitting interior passage, the spout sensing port interface fitting interior passage and the dock fitting interior passage forming an interior continuously sealed through opening in the nozzle adaptor assembly.
 4. The nozzle adapter assembly of claim 3 where the means for providing the source of ambient air at the spout air sensing port when the nozzle dispensing spout is locked into the spout lock fitting interior passage comprises an annular air intake plenum in communication with the source of ambient air without a vacuum drawn in the annular air intake plenum.
 5. A nozzle adapter assembly for supplying a liquid to a liquid test or measurement apparatus to enable a bottom-fill of the liquid test or measurement apparatus from an automatic shut-off nozzle having a nozzle dispensing spout, the nozzle adapter assembly comprising: a cam lock fluid fitting for sealably locking the nozzle dispensing spout into a spout lock fitting interior passage of the cam lock fluid fitting; a spout sensing port interface fitting having a spout sensing port interface fitting interior passage, the spout sensing port interface fitting interior passage in communication with the spout lock fitting interior passage, the spout sensing port interface fitting having a means for providing a source of ambient air at a spout air sensing port when the nozzle dispensing spout is locked into the spout lock fitting interior passage; and a first sealing element disposed between the cam lock fluid fitting and the spout sensing port interface fitting; a liquid test or measurement dock fitting having a dock fitting interior passage in communication with the spout sensing port interface fitting interior passage, the liquid test or measurement dock fitting having a means for sealably locking the nozzle adapter assembly into an interior volume of the liquid test or measurement apparatus and a spout insert stop ledge to ensure the spout air sensing port is in communication with the source of ambient air when the nozzle dispensing spout is locked into the spout lock fitting interior passage; and a second sealing element disposed between the spout sensing port interface fitting and the liquid test or measurement dock fitting, the spout lock fitting interior passage, the spout sensing port interface fitting interior passage and the dock fitting interior passage forming an interior continuously sealed through opening in the nozzle adaptor assembly.
 6. The nozzle adapter assembly of claim 5 where the means for providing the source of ambient air at the spout air sensing port when the nozzle dispensing spout is locked into the spout lock fitting interior passage comprises an annular air intake plenum in communication with the source of ambient air without a vacuum drawn in the annular air intake plenum. 